Automatically operating liquid dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dispenser of approximately equal amounts of liquid at each pouring is disclosed. It is a container having a bottom and walls extending up from the bottom. A pouring and filling spout extends vertically along a portion of the wall with its lower end in spaced relation to the bottom and its upper end is at the pouring area at the top of the container. An air tube compartment is positioned in the container along a wall portion opposite to the spout. From the bottom end of pouring spout there extends a wall obliquely to the bottom of the container to where it forms with the bottom and adjacent wall opposite the spout and vertically below the air tube compartment an opening and the area defined is the measuring compartment. Above this oblique wall and bounded by the walls of the container is a container compartment that is in communication with the measuring compartment through the opening. When the container is tilted to the horizontal position a measured amount of liquid in the measuring compartment and spout is evacuated.

United States Patent 11 1 Per [ Sept. 24, 1974 1 1 AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING LIQUID DISPENSER [76] Inventor: Laacey Laslo Por, P.O. Box 37,

Christainsted, St. Croix, V.I. 00820 [22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 312,638

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,719,286 7 1929 Carrillo ..222/468X 2,692,708 10/1954 Frey ..222/456 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 314,302 6/1929 Great Britain 222/454 683,634 9/1929 France 222/456 Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Larry H. Martin 5 7] ABSTRACT A dispenser of approximately equal amounts of liquid at each pouring is disclosed. It is a container having a bottom and walls extending up from the bottom. A pouring and filling spout extends vertically along a portion of the wall with its lower end in spaced relation to the bottom and its upper end is at the pouring area at the top of the container. An air tube compartment is positioned in the container along a wall portion opposite to the spout. From the bottom end of pouring spout there extends a wall obliquely to the bottom of the container to where it forms with the bottom and adjacent wall opposite the spout and vertically below the air tube compartment an opening and the area defined is the measuring compartment. Above this oblique wall and bounded by the walls of the container is a container compartment that is in communication with the measuring compartment through the opening. When the container is tilted to the horizontal position a measured amount of liquid in the measuring compartment and spout is evacuated.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING LIQUID DISPENSER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Frequently there is a need for smaller or larger amounts of material such as one to two cups, but approximately equal quantities of liquids such as: detergents, bleaches, water softeners, alcholic or soft beverages, bath odorizers, disinfectants, cooking oils, etc.. In such cases, if one desired to proceed with approximate exactness, it was necessary to employ a means of measurement, which was time and effort consuming.

According to the present invention, a dispenser can be produced economically, the dispensing of liquid substances in question can be effected automatically, simply and rapidly.

The present invention is attained by means of the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross section exploded view of the dispenser in pour position with the closure cap removed;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale but showing the whole neck portion; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional exploded view of a dispenser similar to the dispenser in FIG. 1 in vertical position with its cap removed and an air tube portion exteriorially of the dispenser and forming a handle.

Throughout the description like reference numbers refer to similar parts.

The construction of the dispenser in FIG. 1 consists of three chambers: 1 represents he measurement compartment, 2 the container compartment and 3 the air tube compartment.

The separating wall 4 between 1 and 2 is an oblique surface whose free end is spaced from a bottom 11 and a portion of an adjacent side wall of the dispenser thereby leaving an opening 5. Diametrically from opening 5 is an opening 6 leading to a filling and pouring spout 7.

An air tube compartment 3 is attached to a wall inside of the dispenser vertically above and in line with opening 5. This air tube compartment 3 has only one opening 8 and this opening is near to the mouth 9 of the dispenser and is in communication with the compartment 2.

An air tube 10 has openings in both ends and'is inserted in the air tube compartment 3 so that the lower end is near to the lowest point of the compartment 3 while the upper end is fixed in the mouth 9 of the dispenser.

A cap 12 with threads closes the mouth of the dispenser 9 including also the air tube 10 and spout 7.

Reference to FIG. 2 shows an enlarged cross section of the whole neck of the dispenser of FIG. 1 on line 2-2. It shows the location of air tube 10, the spout 7 and the arrow 25 the direction of pouring.

FIG. 3 depicts a dispenser similar to that in FIG. 1 in a tilted pouring position. It has a hollow handle 13. The distal end 13a of handle 13 is closed and attached to the exterior of the dispenser. This handle 13 is used as an air tube compartment 14 and an air tube 15 is placed in it. Air tube 15 at its upper end connects with spout 17 to be in communication therewith. Here 16 represents a threaded closure cap, 17 the spout, 18 an opening between a measuring compartment 20 and a container compartment 19. A wall 21 extends from around the bottom of spout 17 and oblique to a bottom 22. The free end of a wall 21 is in spaced relation to the bottom 22 and an adjacent wall portion of the dispenser and thereby is formed an opening 18 between the two compartments 19 and 20.

WORK AND USE OF DEVICE As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the dispenser is shaped so that it can be evacuated only in one reasonable attitude. Liquids can be poured into the spout 7. The liquid will fill the container compartment 2 through the valve-like opening 5. During filling air leaves the dispenser through air tube 10. When the dispenser is inclined in proper direction at about a 50 angle, the air from the neck of the dispenser will rise to the now highest position in the area of opening 5 and the surface of the liquid in the container compartment 2 does not reach the communicating opening 5. This being so, only the content of the measuring compartment 1 can be evacuated. When the dispenser is tilted back to level position for seconds, the evacuation can be repeated. The separating walls 4 in FIG. 1 and 21 in FIG. 3 are working so that the following takes place:

I. It assures that the last drop even remaining in container compartments 2 and 19 will flow down to the measuring compartments 1 and 20 automatically. 2. If valve or valve-like opening 5 in FIG. 1 is kept near to the bottom 11, and the like opening 18 in FIG. 3, then the dispensers will operate with a smaller amount of air.

3. Changing the angle of oblique walls 4 and 21 permits the capacity of measuring compartments 1 and 20 to be changed.

However, when the content of measuring compartment 1 is poured out, a certain amount of liquid from spout 7 will be added, but this amount will be progressively less. This effect could be minimized by lowering the height of the dispenser and by use of a smaller caliber spout. Anyhow the dispenser will save a few cubic centimeters of liquid for the sake of customer if the measuring compartments 1 and 20 are devised for an average capacity.

The air tube compartment 14 in FIG. 3 and its air tube 15 therein assures a smooth and permanent supply of air for the dispenser in both directions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letter Patent is:

l. A dispenser, dispensing certain, approximately equal amounts of liquids at each pouring from a pouring spout thereof, and having three compartments, a lower measuring compartment adjacent a bottom of the dispenser, a container compartment above said measuring compartment and connected therewith by an opening, and an air tube compartment having a closed lower end vertically above and in the line of the opening between measuring and container compartments and having an open end adjacent the pouring end of the pouring spout and in communication with the upper portion of said container compartment remote from said opening between the two compartments, said air tube compartment having an air tube extending therein with one open end spaced adjacent the closed end of the air tube compartment having an air tube extending therein with one open end spaced adjacent the closed end of the air tube compartment and the other open end exposed to the atmosphere in the area of the pouring end of the pouring spout, said pouring spout leading from the measuring compartment at a position opposite to said opening between the two compartments.

2. A dispenser, according to claim 1 wherein said air tube compartment has a portion thereof extending in spaced relation exterior of said container compartment with a portion of its lower end attached to said dispenser and a portion its open end'attached to said dispenser and in communication with the upper portion of said container compartment, whereby the portion of said air tube compartment portion that extends in spaced relation exterior of said container compartment serves as a handle.

3. A dispenser for dispensing approximately equal amounts of liquid comprising, in combination, container, said container having a bottom wall and an adjoining wall extending therefrom, a pouring spout extending with its bottom end in spaced relation to the bottom wall to where its top pouring end is at a mouth of the container formed by said pouring spout and a portion of said adjoining wall, a separating wall extending from the bottom end portion if the spout at an oblique angle to said bottom wall to where a portion of its edge opposite to said bottom end of the spout is in close spaced relation to the bottom wall and said adjoining wall whereby a relatively small valve-like opening is formed, said obliquely extending wall forming on one side thereof with said bottom wall and a portion of said adjoining wall a measuring compartment that'is in communication with the bottom end of said filling and pouring spout and said valve-like opening, the other side of said obliquely extending wall forming with an adjacent portion of said adjoining wall a container compartment thereabove that is in communication with said measuring compartment therebelow through said valve-like opening, an elongated air tube compartment attached to at least a portion of said adjoining wall of the container and having a closed end and an open end, the closed end portion being positioned in spaced relation vertically above said valve-like opening and said open end communicating with said container compartment at a position remote from said valve-like opening whereby it is free of liquid and filled with air, and an air tube extending in said air tube compartment with one end closely spaced adjacent the inner end of said air tube compartment and having its other end supported by and adjacent the container mouth end, open to the atmosphere and adjacent the pouring end of the pouring spout, whereby, the air tube is always filled only with air and, the dispenser is filled with liquid poured through said pouring and filling spout conducting liquid through the measuring compartment to fill said container compartment that is vented by said air tube and on tilting said container to horizontal for pouring liquid from said measuring compartment and pouring spout air from said air tube and air tube compartment seeks the now highest point in said container compartment at said valve-like opening and closes same so only the liquid in the measuring compartment and pouring spout are evacuated.

4. A dispenser according to claim 3 wherein said elongated air tube compartment has a portion thereof spaced from a portion of said adjoining wall of the container whereby the portion of the air tube compartment that is so spaced forms a handle for the dispenser for carrying and tilting for pouring. 

1. A dispenser, dispensing certain, approximately equal amounts of liquids at each pouring from a pouring spout thereof, and having three compartments, a lower measuring compartment adjacent a bottom of the dispenser, a container compartment above said measuring compartment and connected therewith by an opening, and an air tube compartment having a closed lower end vertically above and in the line of the opening between measuring and container compartments and having an open end adjacent the pouring end of the pouring spout and in communication with the upper portion of said container compartment remote from said opening between the two compartments, said air tube compartment having an air tube extending therein with one open end spaced adjacent the closed end of the air tube compartment having an air tube extending therein with one open end spaced adjacent the closed end of the air tube compartment and the other open end exposed to the atmosphere in the area of the pouring end of the pouring spout, said pouring spout leading from the measuring compartment at a position opposite to said opening between the two compartments.
 2. A dispenser, according to claim 1 wherein said air tube compartment has a portion thereof extending in spaced relation exterior of said container compartment with a portion of its lower end attached to said dispenser and a portion its open end attached to said dispenser and in communication with the upper portion of said container compartment, whereby the portion of said air tube compartment portion that extends in spaced relation exterior of said container compartment serves as a handle.
 3. A dispenser for dispensing approximately equal amounts of liquid comprising, in combination, container, said container having a bottom wall and an adjoining wall extending therefrom, a pouring spout extending with its bottom end in spaced relation to the bottom wall to where its top pouring end is at a mouth of the container formed by said pouring spout and a portion of said adjoining wall, a separating wall extending from the bottom end portion if the spout at an oblique angle to said bottom wall to where a portion of its edge opposite to said bottom end of the spout is in close spaced relation to the bottom wall and said adjoining wall whereby a relatively small valve-like opening is formed, said obliquely extending wall forming on one side thereof with said bottom wall and a portion of said adjoining wall a measuring compartment that is in communication with the bottom end of said filling and pouring spout and said valve-like opening, the other side of said obliquely extending wall forming with an adjacent portion of said adjoining wall a container compartment thereabove that is in communication with said measuring compartment therebelow through said valve-like opening, an elongated air tube compartment attached to at least a portion of said adjoining wall of the container and having a closed end and an open end, the closed end portion being positioned in spaced relation vertically above said valve-like opening and said open end communicating with said container compartment at a position remote from said valve-like opening whereby it is free of liquid and filled with air, and an air tube extending in said air tube compartment with one end closely spaced adjacent the inner end of said air tube compartment and having its other end supported by and adjacent the container mouth end, open to the atmosphere and adjacent the pouring end of the pouring spout, whereby, the air tube is always filled only with air and, the dispenser is filled with liquid poured through said pouring and filling spout conducting liquid through the measuring compartment to fill said container compartment that is vented by said air tube and on tilting said container to horizontal for pouring liquid from said measuring compartment and pouring spout air from said air tube and air tube compartment seeks the now highest point in said container compartment at said valve-like opening and closes same so only the liquid in the measuring compartment and pouring spout are evacuated.
 4. A dispenser according to claim 3 wherein said elongated air tube compartment has a portion thereof spaced from a portion of said adjoining wall of the container whereby the portion of the air tube compartment that is so spaced forms a handle for the dispenser for carrying and tilting for pouring. 